For a long time I have always wondered why it could be possible for one village to have so many musical talents. And these are not just any bands, they are among the most known bands in the country as far as contemporary iTaukei songs go.
Nasau Village on Koro Island is home to some of the country’s top music groups. In addition, I have always been curious as to why most of these groups’ songs are always about romance, breakups and relationship problems.
One cannot get tired listening to them because it’s their voice and how they sing that gets people hooked. And if music was a drug, then they would be the best dealers. Their voice can just drench your heart and you can feel the pain they are trying to portray through their music.
Sometimes it can be frustrating that people love to talk about relationship problems through a song. Maybe we are all different, some people love to share their problems in order to release them from the stress that comes with it. Others prefer to bottle them up.
Inspite of that, I among the many song lovers just love listening to their songs.
Nasau Village is one of the eight villages that make up the district of Mudu. It is about half an hour’s drive from Muanivanu jetty. The government station, health centre and the only high school on the island (Koro High School) are located at the top of the famous Dokidoki Hill in Nasau.
It is this same hill villagers sought refuge on when tidal surges came crashing into the village at the height of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Hundred and five homes were destroyed and five lives were lost when the deadly cyclone hit Fiji.
Nasau is situated beside the sea with a river snaking its way right beside the village.
The Nakulakula Range, where the Naivaukura pool and Savu waterfall are located, joins with the Dokidoki Hill at Delaikoro. They provide the mountainous yet still beautiful backdrop to Nasau Village.
Legends have it that the people of Nasau originated from Nakotorutubu in Ra. Their ancestor Ramacake was banished from Nakorotubu because he was a great musician and almost all the women fell in love with him and his music.
Ramacake was residing at Burevanua, Nakorotubu where he was asked to leave because according to stories passed down from generation to generation, women returning from fishing or collecting firewood or other chores would stop over at his place after hearing the sweet sounds of his music and melodious beautiful voice.
Their husbands were frustrated that the best of their catch was given to Ramacake. It was the women’s way of showing their gratitude for his beautiful music.
Ramacake left Burevanua in the highlands of Ra and journeyed to Bureiwai before travelling to other places and finally settling at Koro Island.
Other accounts have it that he also travelled to Makogai and there is also another belief that the Bitu Ni Ceva in Qoma, Tailevu was a gift from Ramacake to the fishermen who are the traditional fishermen of the Ratu mai Verata.
However for the Bitu Ni Ceva, there is also the account that it was a gift by Lutunasobasoba, to help the fishermen when going out to sea. According to oral history it is believed if the leaves of the bamboo are shaken by a human there will be eight days and nights of strong winds. This wind would help take them to their destination.
The natives would also shake the bamboo plant if they don’t want visitors to return to mainland but to remain on the island.
When Ramacake arrived on Koro he made his home at Nasau.
According to 59-year-old Simeli Cokanasiga, growing up they did not really know how they were given the talent to sing.
He said on their land up in the Nakulakula hills, they sometimes heard singing in the forest when returning from their farms when it was still light.
“Keimami dau lesu tiko mai na i teitei, ya me yacova mai na gauna qo, dau rogo tu na domo ni sere. Qo o ira na tevoro lalai, na sakulu. Keimami dau sega ni taura rawa na sere era lagata tiko, ia dau rogo tu.
(“When returning from our farms, we would hear the sound and songs but we could not understand the lyrics. They would be singing from a distance and we would not see them, these are spirit dwarfs called sakulu.”)
Mr Cokanasiga said ever since he could remember, his parents and grandparents had all been singers, some notable to hold their own in any impromtu groups formed around the tanoa on any given evening. He heard reports of how they were the main entertainers and would be singing in about every function on the island.
“I witnessed this when I was in Nasau, that during the grog session, village men both young and old, joined in the singing and provision of entertainment.
“In the 1960s, the group Senitomole hit the airwaves. That group was followed by the Nasau Country Sound.”
About two decades later the Voqa kei Nasau was formed, a band in which Cokanasiga, music icon Etonia Lote and others were part of.
They later went their separate ways and formed their own singing groups.
This was the birth of the now all famous singing groups; Veivueti ni Voqa kei Nasau, Voqa ni Delai Dokidoki, Savu ni Delai Lomai, Veivueti ni Voqa kei Nasau and Malumu ni Tobu o Naivaukura.
Towards the turn of the new millennium Cokanasiga also formed his own group which he managed, the Caucau ni Delai Nakulakula.
The group sang hit songs — Tamaqau, Sila Central and Tailevu Push Tailevu.
Today, the original members of Voqa kei Nasau have not fully retired from singing.
Most, however, still participate in their church choir.
Their sons have taken over the reins, battling for supremacy in the iTaukei music industry with their tauvu from Vanua Levu such as Waikatakata Vure, Drodrolagi kei Nautosolo and Kula kei Uluivuya.
